Pneumatic and hydraulic pressure flushing apparatus



Sept. 22, 1964 J. D. LANGDON 3,149,344

PNEUMATIC AND HYDRAULIC PRESSURE FLUSI-IING APPARATUS Filed March 12, 1962 IN VEN TOR.

United States Patent 0 3,149,344 PNEUMATIC AND HYDRAULKC PRESSURE FLUHWG APPARATUS Jesse Dyson Langdon, 1 John St., East Roclraway, N.Y. Filed Mar. 12, 1962, Ser. No. 179,537 1 Claim. (Cl. 4-26) The present invention is a continuation in part of application Ser. No. 58,737, filed Sept. 27, 1960, now Pat. 3,026,535, Mar. 27, 1962.

This invention relates to apparatus for flushing water closet bowls and includes means to automatically control relative volume of pneumatic and liquid elements, such as air and water projected into a tank forming a reservoir adapted to accumulate and contain a predetermined quantity of pneumatic and liquid elements under pressure sufficient to flush a water closet bowl.

The chief object of the invention is to increase the volume of any pneumatic element in proportion to that of any liquid element projected into a reservoir via inlet means communicating with source of supply, by providing air inlet means and liquid inlet means so arranged with respect to one another that a velocity head of liquid under pressure is projected in suitable direction to aspirate air thru a conduit communicating with atmosphere; whereby increased liquid pressure will induce air into said reservoir according to the velocity head of liquid projected thru the liquid inlet means.

Other and further objects and purposes will appear as the specifiication proceeds, as illustrated by the drawing, showing reduction to practice which may be changed within scope of the claim.

Of the drawing:

FIG. 1 is a median section taken vertically thru essential hollow elements of the invention, valve members 5, 19 and stem 12 including handle 14 and plunger 15 shown in relief.

P18. 2 is a sectional fragment of reservoir 1 including liquid inlet 2:: together with funneled air conduit 3a forming a preferred type of air aspirator and injector means.

The combination embodied by the invention comprises a tank forming a reservoir 1 for containment of pneumatic and hydraulic elements. The pneumatic elements being contained in space A above liquid level shown in reservoir 1, including air injection means as follows: Reservoir 1 is provided with liquid inlet 2 and an air conduit 3 communicating with atmosphere and having an inner end projecting laterally into reservoir 1; the outer end of air conduit 3 being directed downwardly and vertically with respect to its horizontally disposed inner end. An air port 4 is surrounded by a valve seat inside of the outer end of air conduit 3. A ball valve 5 normally rests upon and closes air port 4 by gravity. Liquid inlet tube 2 as shown by FIG. 1, projects transversely with respect to the horizontally disposed inner end opening of air conduit 3 and is located below and closely adjacent to the lower side of inner end of conduit 3, whereby a velocity head of liquid projected transversely of the inner end opening of conduit 3 creates negative pressure in the conduit passage 3, liquid and air being projected in the direction shown by arrows. Pin 6 is disposed thru conduit 3 above valve 5 to limit movement of ball valve 5.

The combination of liquid inlet 2, air conduit 3, port 4- and ball valve 5 including pin 6 constitute one form of aspirator forming means whereby atmosphere is injected into reservoir 1.

A preferred form of aspirator and injector device adaptable to use as part of the combination hereinafter described is shown by FIG. 2; the air inlet conduit is shown with a funneled inner end as at 3a axially located Within liquid inlet 2a; the open end of funnel 3a projecting toward reservoir 1, the lower end of the funneled portion being confluent to a tubular portion extended laterally thru the wall of liquid inlet 2a, thence downwardly terminating in an air port 4a normally closed by a ball valve 5a, stop means do being formed by pin means disposed transverse ly across the passage of the tubular portion to limit movement of ball 5a.

A restricted annular passage surrounds the funneled end of conduit 3a, whereby a velocity head of liquid entering thru inlet 2a is projected around the periphery of the funnel in the direction indicated by arrows, thereby inducing a negative pressure in the passage of funnel 3a causing air aspirated from atmosphere via port 4 to be injected into reservoir 1 according to the eifect of a velocity head of liquid under pressure flowing thru inlet 2:: and projected around the periphery of funnel 3a into reservoir 1.

Casing 7 is inserted in the bottom of reservoir 1 and is provided with nozzle-like outlet end 9. A coniform tilting type float valve 19 having seat portion 11 normally resting on a seat 8 provided by the inner end of valve casing 7. A cage 19c limits rise of valve 10. A stem 12 is provided for valve 1l11. In this instance an unusual type of oscillating lever mechanism is used to actuate valve 111-11, and is constructed with a cylindrical extension 13 projecting laterally of casing 7 and provided with an inturned annular flange supporting the outer side of a flange provided for the inner end of an element forming handle 14, a flanged plunger element 15 surrounded by resilient means formed by spring 16 is tensioned against the inner side of the flange of plunger 15 and urges same against the proximate side of the flange of oscillating lever formed by handle 145. Plunger 15 is provided with a sharp pointed end for impinging stem 12 of valve 10-11; this provides rotating means for seat portion 11, as point of plunger 15 impinging a round stern creates frictional stress against the outside of stem 12 which urges stem of seat portion 11 to one side or the other of said plunger 15 causing valve 113-111 to rotate slightly each time plunger 15 is actuated. This feature of rotating valve 11 by frictional stress, due to sliding of the pointed end of plunger 15 against the outside of stem 12 each time the valve is actuated, is important to prevent leakage due to localized wear tending to accrue at one place on the lower peripheral face of the valve seating portion.

It is anticipated if axis of plunger 15 is located off center with respect to axis of stem 12, valve 1941 will be rotated even if plunger 15 were not pointed.

Operation of the described device herein is as follows: when oscillating lever handle 14 is actuated, the flange thereof rocks against the proximate flange of plunger 15 urging same against stem 12, tipping and opening float valve 113411, same floating and rising to open position limited by cage 1190. Air being compressed in tank 1 creates pneumatic pressure equaling that of a liquid supply source creating a velocity head of liquid effective to evacuate the reservoir with a gush of fluid, thereby tending to minimize the amount of water needed to flush a water closet bowl using conventional equipment. Since the volume of air aspirated thru air conduit 3 or St: is increased in direct ratio to the speed of the velocity head of liquid projected via inlet 2 or 2a, more air will be aspirated thru air conduit 3 or 3a in direct ratio to increase velocity head of liquid according to pressure flowing thru inlet 2 or 2a. On the other hand an increased volume of liquid in proportion to amount or air, will be injected into reservoir 1 as liquid pressure is decreased.

Having described the invention and operation thereof, as illustrated by the drawing, the following claim is made:

A device of the character described comprising a reservoir for containment of pneumatic and liquid pressure fluid elements, said reservoir provided with liquid inlet pipe means combined with air inlet means formed by a funnel axially disposed within the pipe means, the flared end opening of said funnel projecting toward said reservoir, the small end of said funnel communicating with atmosphere via a tubular extension projecting laterally through the wall of and thence'downwardly of the outside of the pipe wall, said tubular extension supporting said tunnel in operative position and terminating in a ported outer end provided with an internal annular seat circumscribing the inside of and surrounding'the port, a gravity operated valve member normally closing said port, a restricted annular passage being formed between the peripheral rim of the flared end of said funnel and the inner Wall of said pipe means, a tiltable float valve member having a lower face for seating against and normally resting upon a valve seat formed by the inner end of liquid outlet means provided for said reservoir, cage means extended upwardly of the outer circumference of said valve seat formed by said liquid outlet means, said cage extending upwardly a predetermined distance, above, and spaced away from and encompassing said tiltable float valve member, said cage retaining said tiltable valve member in operative relationship with the outlet seat, a stem extended downwardly of said lower face of said tiitable float valve member and juxtapositioned with manual actuating means concomitant the lower portion of said outlet means projecting from the lower portion of said reservoir, when the tiltable valve member is opened, air being compressed in an air chamber provided above a predetermined liquid level in said reservoir for rapid evacuatiomliquid under pressure projected thru said restrict'ed annular passage around the periphery of said funnel inducing a negative pressure within the opening of said funnel, aspirating atmospheric air entrained and projected into said reservoir by a velocity head of liquid according to supply pressure.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,083,974 Wulf Jan. 13, 1914 1,346,362 Wulf July 13, 1920 1,983,925 White Dec. 11, 1934 2,658,203 Aue Nov. 10, 1953 2,918,680 Langdon Dec. 29, 1959 3,026,535 Langdon Mar. 27, 1962 FOREIGN PATENTS 729,970 France May 3, 1932 180,624 Switzerland Nov. 15, 1935 499,213 Great Britain Jan. 19, 1939 

